Cigarette package protector wiph sliding closure



NOV. 29, 1949 v w, DAVls 2,489,452

CIGARETTE PACKAGE PROTECTOR WITH SLIDING CLOSURE Filed D60. 27, 1948 Patented Nov. 29, 1949 I 1 F 7 K '1. a um'rso STAT PATENT orrics GIGARE'TTE-EACKXGE fitbililioroltwi l ti SLIDING CLOSURE? v Daniel-W;- Davis, Beaumontgffiei, I Apmicatiofioeemiier 27, midi sari-tire. first? in concerns a cigarette protector aid package preserver which; when'insei'ted in a fresh or undamaged package of cigarettes, ents the cigarettes from being crushed and aeiageas d's'ired and-having a sliding closure' member adapted to close the opening.

It a furthefobfrt of the invention to provide a novelty device of the character described which may be readily ir'is'i iii a cigarette package andzwlii'ch may be used indefi-ni'tely'; be-

ing freely removable from an empty package for further use a-new oigundamaged package.

Another'obje'fiif the invention is to provide r'ett'e package,- for-ms a very light and coinpac cigarette case,- smaller" than any other ci'g tte case known-at the present time;

lit -is also an object of the -ifiviition teprevia e a device which is of simple construction and may be manufactured at low cost.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a cigarette package in which a device embodying the invention has been inserted, the closure member being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, showing the closure member in open position.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing only the device of the invention, the closure member being shown in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 3, showing the closure member in open position.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the device, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an end view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a cigarette package from which the top has been removed and in which a device embodying the invention has been inserted. The device of the invention is preferably made of resilient material such as sheet metal, and includes a body member having a pair of sides r' erits the package rrdin being wrinkled" r a device which, in combination-with an or inary 2 Claims. (01. 208.41.)

y 2 top The-em ghtlylonger'than the side are of approximately pi'oir'iinate'ly the same widthas: the t'op' of the package I. The body membl' is'" formed in one gle'stripof material. The

piece by bending al wit-irthe: sides I positioned between the 'A: power er the tea 3 is cut away ta form'- mete-11mg 4 adjacent one end thereoffor the er disper ising'i or extracting cigarettes" ge lt it mber cigarettes: to" be ma'ft'er described and to 2" are approximately With the-upper edges of the package I at that point.

The device of the invention includes, in addition to the body member, a sliding closure member adapted to close the opening 4. The closure member comprises an elongated strip which is somewhat narrower than the top 3 and is folded upon itself at 5 to form an upper portion 6 and a lower portion I adapted to slidably engage the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the top 3. The upper portion 6 is shaped to conform to the contour of the body member when the closure member is in closed position, being bent sharply at 8 to form a depressed portion adjacent the fold 5 and an elevated portion adjacent the opposite end thereof. The depressed portion, together with the adjacent end of the lower portion I, is adapted to close the opening 4. A spring-like loop 9 is formed in the end of the lower portion 1 opposite the fold 5, the upper side of the loop 9 slidably engaging the under side of the top 3. The end of the upper portion 6 opposite the fold 5 is secured to one end of the loop 9.

The closure member is adapted to slide back and forth on the top 3 to open and close the opening 4, being actuated by a thumb or finger while holding the package I in the hand. The

package t as desire'dn The body mom- 'be'r eXte (is upw dlyabove'the upper edges of roper operation-of the-:

sacred freely toward the opening 4 and removed from the package l wh-eri spring-like loop 9, acting upon the under side of the top 3, yieldably retains the closure member in open or closed position. The upper portion 6 is adapted to engage one edge of the top 3 at 8 to latch the closure member in closed position. The closure member may be easily and conveniently shifted to open position by lifting slightly the end of the closure member adjacent the opening'fl, against the action of the springlike loop 9, and sliding the closure member back on the top 3. When in open position the closure member is lifted out of engagement with the cigarettes contained in the package I, whereby the cigarettes may be moved freely toward the opening 4 and removed from the package I.

The size and shape of the body member are such that the sides 2 may be quickly and conveniently inserted in the package I between the cigarettes and the side walls of the package I. At the same time a sufiiciently snug and tight fit is provided to :prevent the package I from slipping off the body member. The device of the invention is conveniently and easily removable from the package I for further use in a fresh package of cigarettes.

The package I is maintained at all times in substantially its original shape, when using the device of the invention, and cigarettes may be readily forced upwardly out of the package I in the usual manner by pressing the bottom of the package I with a thumb or finger.

The device of the invention involves the use of only a very small amount of material and forms, in combination with the package itself, a complete, convenient, inexpensive and practical cigarette case which is of very light weight and extremely compact. The device can be manufactured very economically. It consists of only two parts and may be made of inexpensive, light weight material, using inexpensive tools or dies and with a minimum of mechanical operations.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. Means for reenforcing cigarette packages and dispensing the contents thereof comprising a body member having a pair of sides and a top,

the sides being adapted to be inserted in a cigarette package immediately adjacent the side walls thereof, an opening being formed in the top adjacent one end thereof, and a sliding closure member comprising an elongated strip folded upon itself to form an upper portion and a lower portion adapted to slidably engage the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the top, the upper portion being bent to form a depressed portion adjacent the fold and an elevated portion adjacent the opposite end thereof, the fold being positioned adjacent the opening and a spring-like loop being formed in the end of the lower portion opposite the fold, the upper side of the loop slidably engaging the under side of the top.

2. Means for reenforcing cigarette packages and dispensing the contents thereof comprising a body member having a pair of sides and a top, the sides being adapted to be inserted in a cigarette package immediately adjacent the side walls thereof, an opening being formed in the top adjacent one end thereof, and a sliding closure member comprising an elongated strip folded upon itself to form an upper portion and a lower portion adapted to slidably engage the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the top, the upper portion being bent to form a depressed portion adjacent the fold and an elevated portion adjacent the opposite end thereof, the fold being positioned adjacent the opening and a spring-like loop being formed in the end of the lower portion opposite the fold, the upper side of the loop slidably engaging the under side of the top, the end of the upper portion opposite the fold being secured to one end of the loop.

DANIEL W. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,293 Leggett Apr. 27, 1897 1,552,013 Shroyer Sept. 1, 1925 2,273,999 Ruegger Feb. 24, 1942 2,325,721 Visser Aug. 3, 1943 

